I was living in London, and I was studying the history of art and design, or something like that, in the University of London, and he was going and he was studying art. And if theyre gonna make a museum out of it, theyre gonna have to pay somebody to greet people and take them on tours. Burke: Right across the creek. Q: And will the board continue and play a role in in that? Daller: Stating that it is part of it part of Historic House. And now the people that I sold it to, the Pistillis [James and Kathleen Pistilli], they had the whole thing researched and now its got landmark things on it and everything. I remember you always loved it and liked it. I mean, how did you decide what to purchase, what to collect? And each little petal and everything is done beautiful. And thats where we are today. Daller: But it was the thing with the lilacs smell. And you can put it together and fix it. Q: No, that covers it! And that was nothing but a little house that caught firewas just a little, little house. And they were good investments. Burke: So, my sister Marge, and my sister Bess, would come over and help me. George: Oh, I knew the Seguines for years. He was always at the stables there. Betsy P. Thompson East Greenbush, New York. I got one or two things out of it. Right. And I said, What in the hell is this doing in my house? So I opened up the lid and there was this old lady laying in there, with this big lace collar around her neck, and her hair was puffed up behind her head, like that, was all gray. Q: And thats what allowed you to buy this house? All my life, I was raised in a big house. And it was one of those busy, busy, goddamn nights. And he was the one that took me around and showed me where to get the good fabric. They talk about Tottenville, its all McMansions. Everything has changed, all the old houses are torn down. Q: I wanted to ask, also, theres a painting of you in the house, right? 6389 Amboy Road. Burke: Yes. You cant ride on the street. Q: You mentioned that the South Shore has changed in the last few years. And a friend of mine I was very good friendly with was John. And that went for years. I found three things like that. Architectural style and interior style? He used to stay out here. I mean, I could do a little woodwork, but I wasnt a carpenter. And there was a big flight of stairs that went across the big porch across the front of the house, posts. And then when they decided thatthey owned a beautiful house on one of the Keys in Florida. But he was excellent. Burke: Yes, I had to go down in the basement, and put a post, and then I had to jack up the stairs. Burke: So, in other words, fifty years from now, if someone wants to learn about the house, they can find out. I bought those buildings. And that was only one of them. And I didnt realize it because I was always working. They moved in there, and they lived there. This was in the East Bronx, this was on 167th and College Avenue. I had a bulldozer two weeks, riding back-and-forth, and back-and-forth, and back-and-forth across the front of the house because you couldnt see the house from the water. Burke: Yes. If it wasnt for Mrs. Mackey across the street telling me about the funeral, I would have never known. Staten Island, Brooklyn, New York, Kings, Long Island, and New Jersey (718) 966-7800 That was a shame. Q: The Friends of the Seguine Mansionthe friends group. Otherwise, Id never be able to have half the stuff thats in here because it would have cost me a private fortune to have it shipped. We are a big family. Scarpaci Funeral Home of Staten Island LLC. And were doing this interview in Burkes home, in the Seguine Mansion on the South Shore of Staten Island. And its still there, its all there. I went to boot camp, I loved it. I want it now. I could never get it. Burke: Its never finished! I collected all my antiques and all my stuff when I was traveling. Its just a shame. Tell us about when you were born? And Luis was really, really a great guy. And he was stationed here, in St. George, and he would come home and wed live in the house. And that painting of me, thats upstairs in my bedroomdid you ever see it? She came and did a lot for the draperies and everything here. So I still had to get up every day and go to work. But he did a lot of the work for you. Probably. And over the years, it became just prohibitive to try and do. Q: So its confidential becauseoh, okay. And that was the Air Force. She lived up on Lighthouse Hill. Burke: Yes. And she was living here all by herself. They were all along the waterfront here. And he and his wife, Adriana, they retired and moved to Florida. Burke: Well, a good example is the one right here at the end of the street. Because people will come in, and therell be four or five people and somebody will walk by and just pick this up, and pick that up. Where all the servants lived. And then when I went looking for myhis name was Joinerand everybody was saying, Well, Sergeant Joiner is leaving, Sergeant Joiner is leaving. And I never thought much of it. Ill tell you the good stuff! [laughs] And that was it. Theyre deciding they want to build, so they tear down and build. Im no bulldozer!. And these roofs had big arches, like this. Burke: Oh, it was all overgrown with undergrowth. You could see with all the houses over here, its gotten very built up. Unfortunately. Luis was great. Oh, that was the ghost in Tottenville. I forgottheres ten acres that is landmarked now. So we lived there, and it was a big courtyard and there were four buildings and the center courtyard was all grass. Eventually, he was able to move his collection of Victorian-style furnishings safely into the home, and add to it larger pieces of furniture to complete the restoration. He did so much work for you. That was all what she had in mind! Daller: Plus the fact, it cost a fortune to take away the manure. I forgot whose house it was. You couldnt see the grounds through the trees and it was just covered and everything. Besides horses and Rusty, there are peacocks too. But I forgot what the other two things were. Youre working too hard. Thats the only thing in the house left from the Seguines. And thats what I called out for was help. And that was, Mrs.these mirrors came from that house, they were in the parlor in that houseWhat the hell was her name? It was gorgeous and very ornatewas very, very much like Greek Revival. Burke: I never lived in a little small house, I have no idea. You couldnt even see it. So you really cant even try to say what does it feel like? That was a shame. Just landmarked. They were some kind of jewelry like that but I dont remember what it was. I have questions about closets too! Burke: Scalia. And that was it. Now, this is a portrait of Joseph Seguine. And all my brothers. More beautiful than peoples houses. Shit. And the porch went all like this, around the house. Brother Celestine George Burke, an educator who was a member of the Brothers of the Christian Schools for 63 years, died on Thursday at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, N.J. . He says, Hes my good friend, and so on, We live on Staten Island. And I got to know a tremendous amount of people that way. Staten Island was very early on, and then Florida, and then off to Europe. It wasnt fair to him to keep paying for it. I said, I still have friends that myour parents met before we met. So whenever the big surgeons traveled, I always traveled with themtraveled all over Europe. It turned my stomach just to watch all of that gorgeous stuff just destroyed. Daller: Then you got rid of thatbut those are the early days. First thing I started with was the basement because it had four-foot of water in it. Well, it doesnt matter, her name. And my brother Bill and my brother Ed decided to go into an automobile repair shop. And that was a kitchen, and that was bedrooms and a little living room, all up there. And thats what I did. And she was laying like this. And that was inwhere the hell, what did they call that area where all the Eskimos lived? Daller: Oh, I dont know. Q: And so, what sort of vision do you have for, you know, the next the next forty years, for how the grounds are maintained and how. But what was really, really bad was people, if they were going to build a garage, or they were going to build something, theyd go to that big, beautiful mansion and rip the siding off of it and take it back to build what they want to build. But I was glad that I got this. The one in particular, United States Steel [Corporation]. So I got this on the front porch somewhere, nailed to the house, butdoesnt matter. Thats annoying certain people. What was it, in the city? 174 East 80th Street, New York, NY 10075Phone: (212) 988-8379 | Fax: (212) 537-5571Contact Us: info@nypap.org. Burke: Oh. Unfortunately, you got to find environmentalists, theyve got to look for things and theyve got to point things out. Well, what are we talking about? Burke: Well, I knew how to do it. Q: Was it a similar style? Well, I was born on Staten Island. Daller: Thats a story you should share, about the lilacs and the lady. Theres none of the spirits. Hes done it for forty-plus years, now its time to give back. I dont know, Im just used to it. Interviewing George Burke, and. Or is there a way for things to be changed? Burke: Well, look at the mansion! So I went around to all the nursesof course, I was in the medical departmentand I asked all the nurses, What are you doing with your stamps? A couple of years ago, I painted them this color, didnt I? But you used tell me. I had all the walls done. And after he died the family still lived like we had my fathers money involved. The real estate lady wouldnt come in. And we used to say, Wow, wonder who lives there? And it was called SS White [Dental Manufacturing Company]. And it became quite the place to be. And my neighbor across the street, who had lived there forever, she comes over again with a couple of little plants for me. So tell me about when you went to Europe. So itll be part of Staten Island that people, maybe fifty years from now when theres not a spot left, theyll all come out and theyll look and say, Wow, this is what it used to be.. And I took interior design and the history of architecture, and something else. And that was the Air Force. She said shell keep the doors locked and call Linda if anybody wants to get in and take anything out. Staten Island. It was so overgrown in the front yard and everything. You know, everybody knew him, and everybody, wow. Daller: Yes. Constantly. She was great, I loved her. It was like a mansion youve never seen. I put the post on it up under the floor where the newer posts in the staircase was upstairs, and then, when I took the jack away, it sat on the post. And I decided, well, Im going to pick up some nice buildings. I knew what she looked like, I knew where it was. But thats what that was. So thats my uncles hope for it as well. Get out. So I run downstairs. Come here, Marge. I said, What? They said, Sell this goddamn place. Im gonna save this house. But this is too much for you, George. Id come back up and I could still smell it in the hallway. I could make another funeral parlor out of that. And I said, No, lets not make a funeral parlor. Thats what it is. We were doing other parties at the time, the only thing we still maintain is the White Party. They dont know it. Because I certainlyI never passed up a bargain. The Seguine nestled in the back of his mind, Burke joined the Air Force and moved to London when he was 19. Right? Most recent obituaries in New York. Because you never finish, youre always finding something to do. And then of course, being in New York and being in the thing like that, I got to be very, very good friends, with Scalamandr. But the other house, one of his friends was pushed down the stairs. And I had the money to do it, and I said, You know, let me do it.. And then when you could see the house, it was a goddamn mess. Copyright 1998 2023 New York Preservation Archive Project. By Carol Ann Benanti | benanti@siadvance.com STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- It's designated one of Staten Island's signature society events of the year, a. And so shes got the bridge, and it costs money. And she was laying with her arms, like that. And then I went through floor and room after room, and took almost five years to put the house in good shape, the way you could see it. Oh, God. So I come home dead tired. So I said, Well, Bess, if youre interested in doing it, Im interested in doing it.. [laughs]. And I got these. Bulldozed that down. I mean, I had a beautiful condo in Florida. Burke: Oh, and then the house, when I bought it, everybodythe real estate lady, she wouldnt come in. But the only thing was it was too small. Burke - 1 - 2 and grew up 90% of my time on Staten Island until I became old enough and I joined the military. And whats going on up the street here now? Ive been to the Tenement Museum, and I love the fact that theres a woman on a loop and she discusses living in the apartment. Burke: Oh, I forgot about that. And finally, we met with John Krawchuk, when he became in office. I think I got the two of them for five bucks or something like that. And my fatherwe were quite wealthy, growing up. When they shipped me back from where I was, where the Eskimos were, they sent me back to the base, because they were shipping everybody now, backafter your time was up, you had to go back because you couldnt stay any longer than two years, and after two years, you had to come back to the States. People, Oh, could you help me? And especially when I came to Staten Island and I was working for Sherwin Williams, andwhat the hell, Florence? I dreamed, I saw it. But the one that I remember was a great big brooch. And with the Air Force, I enjoyed every minute. Soon, nobody had room in their house to store anymore of my stuff. So I rented the apartment next door, and I broke a hole in the wall. And my uncle came in and was part of the whole group. And then, on the side of the house in the back, there was a little piece built out. And then one of my brothers had just gotten out of the military. So I paid it off and bought it in cash, with the cash. Burke: So then I gave it to the Historic House Trust of New York. So I took that out of the brick and I got some cement, put it all back in, put the wall back up. And they were slate, the roof, and by walking on the slates, they broke and they slid off, and wherever they slid off, the rain poured through because it was holes. Burke: Well, I hope it gets maintained. I wanted to know some more details about the life tenancy. And thats where I had all this wonderful carved stuff from the Eskimos that they gave me. But that was a condo. Q: And so when you were deciding what to collect, were you thinking about. I mean, we had clocks, baby-Ben clocks, hanging in apartments. I open the door to the parlor. When he came he got everything going. And I got a good price for that. But I had all this beautiful carved stuff. And the house was like this, a big piece with two big wings. I think hes given you a great history of what started and, basically, youve talked about his life from the beginning, so, I dont know. Restored the building, looked around, come down, bought this house from Mrs. Seguine, and then moved out of the bar and restaurantbecause I had a room upstairs in it. Frank Tredici. And there was a whole other floor, another story, and its built with the French style, in the French mansard. Burke: Of course, Id been in Alaska for all that time. My big old Victorian house is saved, and thats still there. Burke: Well, I was always an antique collector. And I just got a call from all my lady friends saying that my house is falling apart. Thats what I wanted. I want to go back and ask for some more details about your childhood. And people were selling anything out of their house to support themselves and live. I should really do something to save it. And it just was luck that I had just sold a real estate deal and made a lot of money. Q: And how did you decide, I guess, how to rebuild? Well, the paintings and the small stuff like thatthat like that mirror and those paintings and all that stuffthat was all the little stuff. What the hell is this? All of a sudden, she went, Youre in my house, and get out! Holy Christ. I mean, as a kid going down here crabbing, down on the beach, we used to look back at the house all the time. Oh, God, it was gorgeous. Burke: Let me think of how all that started. All went into the landfill. George W. Burke, age 63, of Hull, entered into eternal rest on October 2, 2021. It was piled up in their basement. Theres a bunch of little houses now built all along through their gardens. Daller: Well, you did at a certain point, because you have a lot of photos. And if you can capture and keep something that looks like this, then this is a big plus for the area. He moved into the house shortly after the sale, and worked from the basement to the roof, and outwards throughout the grounds and stables, to complete the restoration. Destroyed. We all got coupons. So I figured, oh, shit. Daller: As a matter of fact, we had an event years ago. They cant build houses on it. Q: and Linda Daller for the New York Preservation Archive Project. The Greek Revival house is one of the few surviving examples of 19th Century life on Staten Island. Im gonna go look. But that was biga big, two-bedroom condo. I cant think of the name of the thing now. Because I wanted the man that built the house, and this is the man that saved the house. George Memon's passing on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 has been publicly announced by Martin Hughes Funeral Home in Staten Island, NY. Burke: Oh, well, the Eskimos up there would give me beautiful mukluks and all kinds of things. Burke: Oh god. So most of the stuff is Victorianturn of the century and Victorian. 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